Atlanta, For Immediate Release: Hong Kong ’s Chek Lap Kok International is the world’s top new airport, noted futurist McKinley Conway contends in his new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future.

Hong Kong’s landmark program, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in recent history. In addition to the race for outer space, the author of several dozen other books has chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s top new airport:

“The world’s top new airport is Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok facility. New airports are very conspicuous and much-appreciated by the public – except for the next-door neighbors. The most exciting recently completed projects are those at Hong Kong and Osaka, Japan. Costing more than $15 billion each, they represent significant engineering achievements. Other noteworthy new airports are located at Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan.

“Several dozen major cities around the world have invested $1 billion to $5 billion in new airports or expansions of existing facilities. Athens, Greece, built a new airport for the 2004 Olympics. Beijing is building another for 2008. Mexico City has picked a site for a new airport while Tokyo is still looking. Dubai, U.A.E., plans a new all-cargo facility at Jebel Ali. Elsewhere, Denver, Seoul, South Korea, and Munich, Germany, are enjoying bright new facilities.